A Winning Hand Read online

  Besides, what could possibly happen in a crowded Saloon? If anyone dared give her a lewd look, she had no doubt that they would be immediately thrown out for bothering a lady customer. She felt the coins and paper in the pocket of her dress-- surely they would be enough to buy herself a small meal while still leaving enough left over to join in a good poker game. She let her fingers linger over her money-- if she played her cards right, there would be more than enough to join them soon.

  If she played her cards right... but of course she would. Grandaddy had taught her how to play cards when she was just a small thing, and she hardly ever lost, although she had the gambler's naughty trick of deliberately throwing early games to sweeten the pot. That gambit never failed with new ranch hands. Before they got any wiser, she'd always been able to earn herself a fair amount of their Saturday night funds.

  Josie sighed. If she had known how much the shops were going to cost, she would have taken that money with her, instead of leaving it in her hiding place in the bottom of her wardrobe. There was no chance of riding home to fetch that money now-- it would take too much time, and there'd be too great a risk of being spotted. And it wasn't as if she'd have another chance to sneak away anytime soon. No, if she wanted shopping money today, the only way she could get it was by winning at poker at the Holiday Saloon.

  Chapter 4

  Buck Miller untangled himself from a few pairs of legs. He counted them as he climbed out of the bed. Hm... seemed to be one less pair than he was used to waking up to on a Saturday afternoon. He looked over on the floor to see if anyone had fallen out of bed, but there was no one lying there. He shrugged. He'd give the missing gal a stern tongue lashing for runnin' out, but he couldn't remember exactly which of his gals was the missing one. Ah well, they were all pretty much the same, give or take a few tricks.

  Buck Miller shuffled over to the window to where his pants lay crumpled up on a chair. He gave himself a good long scratch before pulling them on. He was just about to turn back to his playthings when something on the street outside caught his eye. Or should he say - someone. And she was walking toward his fine establishment. She was already close enough for him to let his eyes drink her in. Nicely shaped, ample, and if his years of experience with female flesh was any guide, there was some good potential for even prettier expansion. Her dress dipped nicely, showing a pretty swell of flesh, but wasn't really cut quite deep enough to match her profession. Of course, he had no doubts about how she earned her keep, for no female who wasn't in the flesh trade had ever walked down Pointer Lane. He smiled lasciviously as he watched her chest bounce with each determined step. Little minx, hadn’t even bothered with a corset. That meant she'd have nothing but nipple pressed up against that tight bodice. He closed his eyes and pictured her shade. Light and innocent? Dusky? A deep reddish-brown? Not that he wouldn’t find out the answer in a few minutes, but he always enjoyed the guessing game. Nine times out of ten he was right. He smacked his lips together as he imagined pulling open the buttons that trailed down the front of her dress. She would be a pale pink, he decided, but a few good bites would make them darker. Oh, how he would enjoy making them darker.

  Chapter 5

  Josie had gotten most of the way down the street before she realized that she was the only lady there. Main Street in Waring Springs always bustled with men, woman and children, it was strange that now she saw only men on Pointer Lane.

  And more than a few of them now seemed to be eying her up. Suddenly the man who had hooted at her was back-- once again he licked his lips and leered, before giving her a long whistle.

  Folding her arms in front of her chest, she moved her feet as fast as she could without breaking into an open run. The Holiday Saloon wasn't far now- surely no one would bother her if she went in there? As she neared the swinging doors though, a few unsavory looking characters stumbled out, making her question her judgment. She was about to back away, when she caught sight of a sign in the front window.

  High stakes poker, 3 o'clock till closing.

  Surely, if those unsavory characters had just stumbled out, there must be a better class of customer left inside. Josie took a deep breath. She really did not wish to turn around and walk back up the street on her own- not after the way those men had acted around her. Surely it would be best to go on inside the Saloon and go through with her poker plan?

  It couldn't be as late as 3pm yet, but she could get something to eat and drink before waiting for the game to begin. And then if she joined in for a few hands, she would definitely have enough to get the items she'd wanted from Wilson's Emporium.

  Taking another deep breath, Josie reached for the swinging doors.

  But before she had a chance to breathe out, she found herself being grabbed firmly around her waist by a pair of strong hands.

  She yelled out in angry protest, but it was no use. The man's grip was like iron. She couldn't even wrench herself around to try to get a look at him. Her frantic attempts to hit and kick and scratch and bite were meaningless compared to his strength.

  The way he was carrying her, it was hard to see where she was going, but it seemed to be in the direction of an alley on the side of the Saloon.

  Josie gulped with fear, terrified as to what she might be in for once he got her down that alley.

  Chapter 6

  Thinking about what that saucy new gal looked like under her dress had been enough to put a huge dumb smile on Buck Miller's face, or maybe it was those long hard strokes that he started to give himself while his eyes were still pressed tight, thinking about tasting and slurping on that fine bosom of hers, torturing her pretty little nipples until she cried. Buck was almost at where he was aiming to be, but he couldn't be sure of her face. If he was picturing her face streaked with tears, well, then he wanted to make sure he got her face right. That might not matter to some men, but for certain fantasies he felt that the face was an important detail to get right. Buck opened his eyes to take a better look at that sweet little face. But peering out the window, he couldn't see her anywhere. He pulled his hand out of his pants. Had she entered his Saloon already?

  He was ready to go downstairs and meet her, when he heard the sound of a man and woman arguing in the alley outside. He couldn't make out what she was yelling, as much as he strained his ears to hear her. Could that be his naughty little nymph? Quickly he walked toward the alcove, which had a window looking out onto the side alley. Yep, there she was alright, and what a plus, some cowboy had her in a tight grip. The way he figured it, the little minx was about to get herself a rough little tumble. He opened the window to get a better peek.

  The gal was cursing up a blue streak, but instead of tossing her down on her back, the fellow had taken her over his knee. He watched with rising anticipation as the man undid his buckle, and then with a hard yank, pulled his belt clear off.

  “Sam? Sam Everett?”

  “The one and the same, Miss Josie.”

  “What do you think you're doing? You've got no right to--”

  “This here's your Daddy's job, but seeing as how I'm the one that found you--”

  Oh, this was going to be good, Buck Miller thought, pushing down his pants as he waited for their performance to get underway. He loved a good spanking, and though he preferred delivering one to watching one, that fellow down there looked strapping enough to deliver a memorable one. Oh, that gal was going to be kicking something fierce once that belt smacked against that nice round bottom. The cowboy hadn't taken her drawers down yet, but Buck Miller could practically hear the slap of the thick belt as it smacked against her tender flesh.

  Ah, this was too much for a man, Buck Miller said, swearing to himself. He couldn’t wait for them to get on with things-- he began stroking himself hard and fast in anticipation. He just needed to hear a good lusty cry from her to send him over the top.

  But when the expected moment arrived, he was left disappointed. Although the fellow had drawn his arm back to strike, he did not deliver the goods.

>   Buck Miller was left holding himself hand and fist, as the cowboy set her on her own feet.

  “And that's the God honest truth?” the cowboy was asking.

  “Of course it is,” she said. “I was hungry and wanted to get something to eat. I asked someone where to go and she directed me here.”

  “A woman gave you directions to this place? What kind of a woman would have told you that the Holiday Saloon was a proper place for the likes of you to get some refreshment?”

  The girl hesitated. “Maybe I got it wrong. Maybe it was a man who told me.”

  “You went up to a man who was a stranger to you? And you spoke to him?” The cowboy asked, his voice stern.

  “I, I... um.” She mumbled, evidently aware of the steam that had to be coming out of the man's nostrils by now.

  “Seems to me that shouldn't be to hard to remember who you spoke to only a few minutes ago.”

  The gal looked down and didn't answer him.

  Buck could see the man's hand twitch, and held out some hope that there'd be a good old fashioned spanking after all. Any fool could tell the little gal was lying to him. It had been clear as day that she had every intention of heading into the Saloon, and it hadn't been for a plate of food. Not that Buck cared about her lying, but he did want to see her kick up her heels something fierce.

  “And just what were you doing off on your own anyhow?”

  “I'm with Annie and her mother, but she's being fitted for some fancy new dresses, and I got a bit bored. It- it was hard seeing all that finery. You know Daddy doesn't hold with me dressing like the Appleton girls,” she said, starting to sniffle.

  The cowboy said something in a softer tone. It was too low to hear. All Buck could tell was that the man's hand stopped twitching. And worse yet, the gal was no longer in close reaching distance to be hauled back over the cowboy's lap. The cowboy did still have his belt out, but his grip had slackened and Buck's hopes were fading fast.

  “I- I thought I'd look around a bit until they were done with the fitting.”

  “Where are they?”

  “At the Emporium.”

  He nodded. “Well, I'll walk you back there.”

  “You, um... you won't be able to come into the back where they...”

  “That's private women's stuff,” he said shaking his head. “I'll just make sure you get back safely to the Emporium. Has it been long since you left them?”

  “Couldn't have been more than half an hour.”

  “Good. Then they probably didn't have time to worry. But if they did, I expect you to apologize.”

  “So we're okay?” She asked, eying the thick leather belt that he was still gripping in his hand.

  “As you said, you've got a Daddy, and I'm not him. So we'll see what your Daddy has to say about your little trip to the Saloon. About this whole little story of yours. No, I'm not going to whip you, not when you'll get your bottom tanned at home,” the man said, putting his belt back on.

  “Silly Sam. You know darn well Daddy doesn't spank me.”

  “There's a first time for everything, Josie.” He said, and then he gripped her arm tightly. “And whether he spanks you for this or not, Josie, I'll tell you this-- if I ever find you at this Saloon again, I will take you over my knee again. And I will take my belt out. But I won't be putting you down until you've had the best of it.”

  “You-- you wouldn't,” she said, her voice quivering. “Why, I bet Daddy would fire you for that!”

  “Then let him. I don't need this job nearly as badly as you need a spanking!”

  And with that, the man yanked at her hand, and appeared to pull her out of the alley. Most likely on their way back up to the Emporium.

  Buck Miller groaned. Life was too unfair. First he thought he was about to get a new dancer. Then he thought he'd get to watch a vicious dirty little toss. And then he thought he'd at least see her kicking and crying under that heavy looking belt. But no, that Josie and that Sam had selfishly cheated him out of a good time. He hoped he never saw either one of them again unless that Sam finally delivered on his word and gave her the belting she so obviously deserved.

  Cursing the two of them, Buck Miller was left having to use his own imagination to finish the scene the way it ought to have played out. After cheating him out of his fun like that, he was certain to picture her at the mercy of the belt. Ah, there'd be no kindness then! That Josie would have her lacy little drawers down past her knees. Buck Miller rubbed himself fiercely, imagining each snap of the belt, leaving that tender bottom nice and red and raw.

  Finally, giving himself a contented groan, Buck Miller wiped his hands on his pants before doing them back up. It was about time he got downstairs and started the poker game.

  Chapter 7

  Josie and Sam walked toward the Emporium in silence, Sam's hand tightly clasped around Josie's upper arm. She felt like a prisoner being led to jail. She knew what she had done was wrong, but she bridled against Sam's superior tone. Who was he to say what she could or couldn't do? He wasn't her boss-- he worked for her Daddy. And yet he had dared to pick her up and put her over his knee! Lifting her like she weighed nothing...

  When he first grabbed her and carried her into the alley, she hadn't known who was carrying her, but she had been terrified that she was going to get something far worse than a spanking.

  When she realized that she was with Sam and that she was going to be safe, her body had quickly flooded with relief.

  But then he had gone and pinned her down against his lap and threatened her with his belt. A very thick, painful belt, by the looks of it.

  Terror of a fate worse than death. Sudden relief at being saved. Followed by fear of a painful whipping.

  Josie didn't know what to think. Too many strong emotions had gone through her at once, leaving her feeling lightheaded and confused. A feeling of safety mixed with a lingering spanking fear, mixed with something she couldn't quite describe. Her thoughts kept returning to his tight grip on her waist, and what it had felt like to be pressed down against Sam's strong, muscular legs.

  She'd done wrong alright, and then she'd deliberately lied to Sam in order to avoid his hard punishment. She knew he didn't trust everything she had said, which left her feverishly trying to remember every word of their interaction. Sam was going to tell Daddy everything, and while she didn't really believe that her Daddy would actually spank her, she couldn't say for sure that he wouldn't. And there were still other unpleasant punishments he could mete out, like increasing her chores, or forbidding her from visiting the Appletons.

  At least no one would ever know that she'd come to town on her own, in deliberate violation of the rules. If Sam had figured that out, she was pretty sure he wouldn't have agreed to wait for her Daddy's judgment- he would have applied his belt right then and there. And if her Daddy might have some strong words to say about Sam remembering his place, she didn't think he would disagree with his decision.

  It was with considerable relief that she said goodbye to Sam after he walked her inside the Emporium.

  “I have to be getting back now,” Sam said, tipping his hat. “You staying at the Appleton's for supper?”

  Josie nodded. “I think so.”

  “Just mind that you don't get back too late. I'm sure your Daddy'll be wanting to have words with you,” Sam said firmly.

  “Yes, sir,” Josie's replied. It was only as she watched him leave that she wondered at her choice of words. Foreman or not, Sam was still hired help, and she had answered him like he was in charge of her. “Yes, sir” indeed! But before she could become fully indignant at how he had spoken to her, she realized she was still in a difficult situation-- she couldn't leave town until after Sam, otherwise he would see her riding back on her own!

  Josie gulped. She had tied her horse up at a shady hitch behind Burke's Hotel. Sam shouldn't have any cause to go back there, but if he did, he would see her horse, and he would surely recognize Spots, what with her distinctive coat. But there was not
hing she could do, she would have to bide her time and hope that she wasn't found out.

  After pacing around the Emporium, she nervously settled herself on a bench, reading a cheap novel until one of the saleswomen chided her for reading without paying for it. Nervously, she left the Emporium, and headed to the hotel, trying to avoid being noticed.

  When at last she had locked herself inside the hotel powder room, she breathed a huge sigh of relief. Quickly she changed back into the clothes she'd rode in, folding her town dress neatly into the carpet bag. Certainly had been more than enough adventure for one day. Josie doubted when she'd ever get another chance to wear that dress again. Back to the ranch and either men's clothes for riding or those shapeless modest dresses. If only she had been born into the Appleton family!

  Chapter 8

  Sam looked back at the Emporium. He would have felt better if he had actually seen Mrs. Appleton, but he knew he didn't belong in the back of the shop. The Appleton girls had their dresses made for them, and that was no place for a man.

  Josie had been dressed for town- it was impossible that she could have ridden her horse in that get up. She must have rode to the Appleton Ranch and changed there. Still, he didn't like that she had been walking around town on her own, especially near the Saloon. And was she really unaware of its reputation? He'd always done his best to keep the men under control on the Lanshaw Ranch, but he found it hard to believe that she'd never overheard anyone talking about the goings on at the Saloon.

  And then she had actually tried to lie to him, claiming that it was a woman who recommended the Saloon to her, and told her where it was. He felt his hand twitch again. He really should have spanked her for that alone. But something had softened in him when she had talked about her shopping trip with the Appletons. And somehow he'd felt a bit sorry for her. Josie was close to Annie Appleton's age, but surely didn't dress like her. He supposed it was hard for her to see the other gal buying pretty things.